The New York-based financial adviser overcame challenging weather conditions to capture the Canadian women's doubles trap-shooting title at the Strathcona Range.

Meyer, raised in Vancouver by a mother who starred in high-profile musical shows, knocked down 289 of 350 targets in the two-day event, including 40 of 50 in a late-afternoon round when gusts reached more than 50 kmh.

She finished well ahead of Edmonton veteran Susan Nattrass, who finished at 239. Meyer also topped the men in the field.

Becky Russell of Hinton knocked down 211 targets and Svetlana Lazarev found 204.

SHORT AND LIGHT

Meyer's performance was something special. Easily the shortest and lightest on the firing line, the mother of two entered the final day with a narrow two-shot edge over Giuseppe DiSalvatore of Surrey, B.C., in the overall race and stretched her margin despite the grim weather.

She said the wind affected her shots only a little. "I think my balance must be good but I was starting to get a little cold."

DiSalvatore, a brilliant prospect at 15, faded to third in the men's event behind Saskatchewan products Rod Boll and Kirk Reynolds, whose race for first place ended in great suspense.

Reynolds knocked down 41 of 50 in his sixth set and forced a sudden-death showdown -literally, a shootout - when Boll missed one of his final pair as wind gusts pushed the targets (only 100 grams) into wild and crazy patterns.

FIVE IN A ROW

Tied at 278 after 300 shots, each finalist then shredded five targets in a row. On the sixth of the playoff, Boll was accurate but Reynolds was not.

DiSalvatore finished at 269.

Showing well in this national event guarantees a lot of travel for the winners: Meyer and the top three men qualified for the Pan-American Games in Brazil and are also eligible for major events in Korea, Slovenia, Italy, Dominican Republic and Cyprus.

Today is set aside for practice before the 41 competitors begin tomorrow to shoot at least 300 targets each in the race for the national singles title.